Total number of timeslots slips as media costs rise during third-quarter 2006.

An 8.4-percent increase — nearly $22.3 million — helped set
a new third-quarter long-form
DRTV media billings record
of $287,263,300, marking 2006’s third
consecutive record-setting quarter and
the sixth straight quarter of record-setting numbers overall. Even with rising
media costs, the total number of timeslots purchased managed to remain above
400,000 for the fifth consecutive quarter.
Long-form media billings for the first
nine months of 2006 total just less than
$945.5 million, meaning even a dismal
fourth quarter would still shatter the
overall annual record of $1.08 billion, set
just a year ago.

lion). The “Crafts, collectibles and hobbies” category enjoyed its second straight strong third quarter,
with a 282-percent increase. Dollar-on-dollar gainers were led by the “Financial and business opportu-